Before flight testing of the AEG PE, development continued in the DJ.I. The DJ.I was a two bay biplane, of unequal span using I-section aerofoil section interplane struts. The fabric covered wings had dural spars, the fuselage utilising aluminium sheet skins and some armour protection for the engine, fuel tank and pilot.
Three DJ.I prototypes were built, the first flying in July 1918. The first two were fitted with Benz Bz.IIIb V-8 engines of 195 hp and fitted with 4-blade propellors, while the third had a Maybach Mb.Iva engine of 240 hp.

Flight testing was not completed by the end of World War 1 in November 1918.

Engine: 1 x Benz Bz.IIIb, 195hp
Wing span: 32 ft 9.75 in / 10 m
Length: 21 ft 11 3/8 in / 5.69 m    
Height: 9 ft 10 in / 3 m
Max take-off weight: 1375 kg / 3031 lb
Empty weight: 1182 kg / 2606 lb
Max. speed: 180 km/h / 112 mph
Cruise speed: 146 km/h / 91 mph
Climb to 3280 ft / 1000m:    4 min
Armament: 2 x 7.92mm mg
Crew: 1